Adjustable vat-head lock



ug. 24 i926.

-J. E. oLsQN ADJUST-ABLE VAT HEAD LOCK Filed April l0, 1925 anic: mmfi.

Patented Aug. 24, 1925.

UNETED STATES 1,597.51?- Aea'isni -raic.,

JOHN E. OLSON, OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH IDAKOTA.

ADJUSTABLE VAT-HEAD LCK.

Application filed April 10,` 1925. rSerial No. 22,128. .l

This invention relates to locks for vat heads and the object thereof is to provide a lock of this character in which no obstructions are presented on the inner face of the vat thereby avoiding tearing of the cleaning brushes.

Another object of the invention is to so construct such a lock that the head may be secured at any desired point within the vat and which may be quickly applied or removed.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in thc details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. i

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a plan view of a vat equipped with a head having this improved lock shown applied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lock with parts broken out;

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. l is a plan view of one member of the lock.

Vats used in packing plants for curing meats and the like are designed to be filled with pickles and in order to keep lthe meat under the pickle a head must be placed in the vat and fastened down. 1n vats as now constructed two lugs are bolted to the inside'thereof at the very top and a stick is placed across under these lugs to hold a vat head down. This is objectionable for the reason that the lugs tear up the brushes of the cleaning machines used vfor washing the vat and moreover they do not permit the fastening of the vat head at different points so that it may be used whether the vat is full or not. It is to overcome these'objections that this improved vvat head lock has been designed. l

The adjustable vat head lock 10` constituting this inventionis composed of two iron bars 11 and 12 provided at their outer ends respectively with prongs or vspurs 13 and 14: which are designed-to be forced in the opposed side walls of the vat 1 in con# nection with which this lock is to be used.

These irons 11 and 12 are connected by a wooden bar 2O provided near its opposite ends with apertures 21 and 22 for connectionof the bars 11 and 12, bar 12 being pivotally connected with the bar 2O by means of a bolt 16 passing through bar 12 and the apertures 22 in the bar 2O as is shown clearly in Fig. 2.

rlhe metal bar 12 is provided at its inner endk with a laterally and downwardly eX- tending lug 15 which is designed to abut one side of the bar 2O when said bar 12 is in closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to limit the swinging movement of said oar 12.

Bar 11 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 17 to adjustably receive a bolt 18 which connects bar 11 with bar 20, said bolt being preferably equipped with a wing nut 19 to facilitate its application and removal.

The connecting bar 2O has a stud 23 adapted to be entered through one of the apertures 17 in bar 11 to cooperate with the bolt 13 to hold bar 11 against turning on bar 10. j j j i rlhis locking stick 10'is shownresting on cleats 3 arranged transversely of the upper` face of the vat head 2 and when the device is in use the head 2 is inserted in the vat to the desired point andy stick 20 has the -mem'ber 11 adjusted so that the stick 10 will correspond in length substantially with the diameter of the vat and after the prongs 13 have been embedded inthevat walls or engaged with the walls, the lever 12 is swung into the full line position shown`V in Fig. 1 which causes the prong 14 thereof to be forcibly engaged with the side wall of the vat and will thus hold the stick securely in locked positionv and prevent the vat head 2 from rising underthel influence of the pickling liquid. The lug 15 engages the side wall of the connecting bar 20 to limit the swinging of the lever 12 to prevent its passing beyond the center.

It will thus be seen'that this vat head lock vwill securely hold the head in adjusted position within the vat at any desired point f ings, seid stud' adapted to eXtend through one of the openings7 a bolt adaptmlto'ex-N tend through the main bar and an opening of the securing bar to adjustably secure the securing bai to the` main bal,f,arpvoted Securing bei* having a pointed extremity mounted on the opposite' 'end o'' the niziin bar and having a lng adapted to engage one side of the main han anclllestict movement of the pivoted securing bar, and said securing bars adapted to engage the innei1 sui'- 'ace of the4 barrel.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWngI have hereto aixed my signature.

JOHN E. OLSON. 

